When anyone that works with or owns horses hears the term navicular syndrome, it often strikes fear in their heart – and fear that the medical bills will begin to pile up.
Navicular syndrome, which is also referred to as navicular disease or caudal heel pain syndrome, is a degenerative condition that impacts the structures in a horse’s heel and was first recognized as a condition in 1752. It is named after the navicular bone located at the back of the heel, the primary purpose of which is to provide a smooth surface for the deep digital flexor tendons to wrap around prior to connecting to the coffin bone. However, navicular syndrome occurs for a variety of reasons and presents itself in many ways, which do not always involve the bone itself.
“Navicular disease is a commonly-used term in the field of equine medicine and one that despite its name is not dependent on a pathology of the navicular bone itself,” wrote Sandra Eriksson in her 2018 Master’s thesis for the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Veterinary Academy. “The term has various definitions which are often the cause of confusion among publishers in the field of veterinary medicine. Navicular disease is a complex set of disease processes responsible for one-third of cases of chronic forelimb lameness in horses in North America and it is well known that it often, although not exclusively, involves the navicular bone. The pain and dysfunction resulting from the degenerative processes occurring in the navicular bone and its supportive structures makes it one of the most important diseases in the field of equine veterinary medicine.”